The picture said it all: confusion, anger, horror, shock. It’s all there.

What the picture doesn’t tell is that the 78-year-old Iffrig – about 15 feet of the finish line – completed the race despite being dazed by the explosion. Hours later, Iffrig recounted what happened to him to national television cameras, including ESPN’s Steve Levy. What’s striking is how matter-of-fact Iffrig is describing what it felt like to be finishing a 26.2 mile race one second and the next blown off your feet from an explosion.

Iffrig’s story helps serves as a reminder to an old adage: the race isn’t always won by the swift but by those who keep on running.

Maybe that’s a little corny or too motivational poster-y for most cynics nowadays, but it’s a nice thought to keep in mind in light of the awful events that occurred in Boston on Patriots’ Day 2013.